I’ve been blogging about the issue of mug shot web sites charging removal fees since 2012, and how the legal issues aren’t totally clear to me. Earlier this month, we saw a case involving mug shots settle in Ohio, and it will be interesting to see what happens in this New York case.

As much as this site has been protective of free speech and sharing of public records (which mug shots are), this all still smacks of blackmail to me. Certainly an ID theft victim should not have to be dealing with this type added reputation harm and stress, and I hope she prevails.